Stethoscope

ABSTRACT

A stethoscope is provided having ear tubes connected by a resilient band which permits swinging movement of the free ends of the ear tubes toward and away from each other in a plane for insertion for use and removal but resists displacement of the ear tubes from that plane, the ends of the resilient band having struck out projections engaged in slots in the tubes and having wings extending partially around the ear tubes, the ends of the resilient band being held in engagement with the ear tubes by external tubular synthetic plastic collars.

United States Patent Carrel G. Ziegler Flourtown;

Albert 11. Hoffman, Roslyn, both of Pa. Appl. No. 22,440

Inventors Filed Mar. 25, 1970 Patented Jan. 11, 1972 Assignee Dittmarand Penn Corporation Philadelphia, Pa.

STETI-IOSCOPE 4 Claims, 5 Drawing Figs.

[1.8. CI 181/24 Int. Cl A6lb 7/02 Field of Search 181/24 [56] ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 654,906

7/1900 Marsh 735,670 8/1903 Jones 3,168,160 2/1965 Littmann et al.3,295,631 1/1967 Machlup Primary Examiner-Stephen J. TomskyAttorney-Zachary T. Wobensmith, 2nd

ABSTRACT: A stethoscope is provided having ear tubes connected by aresilient band which permits swinging movement of the free ends of theear tubes toward and away from each other in a plane for insertion foruse and removal but resists displacement of the ear tubes from thatplane. the ends of the resilient band having struck out projectionsengaged in slots in the tubes and having wings extending partiallyaround the ear tubes, the ends of the resilient band being held inengagement with the ear tubes by external tubular synthetic plasticcollars.

PAIENTEB mu 1 1972 mwsw r095 CARRE'LL G. Z/EGLER ALBERT H. HOFFMANATTORNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates to stethoscopes and more particularly to a stethoscopehaving an improved resilient connection between the ear tubes.

2. Description of the Prior Art Various connections have heretofore beenproposed between the ear tubes of stethoscopes.

A common form of connection comprises a resilient metallic band withsleeves at each end which surround the tubes and are in frictionalengagement therewith. The rigorous use to which stethoscopes aresubjected results in loosening of the sleeves.

The spring material from which such connections are formed makes itdifficult and costly to secure such a band to tubes of differentmaterial and which advantageously are of brass or aluminum.

The stethoscope of the present invention has the connector secured tothe ear tubes in a simple but effective manner which does not requiresoldering or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the invention, a stethoscopeis provided having the metal ear tubes connected by a resilientconnecting band which permits swinging movement of the free ends of theear tubes toward and away from each other in a plane for insertion foruse and for removal but which resists displacement of the ear tubes fromthat plane, the ends of the band having end struck out projectionsengaged in slots in the ear tubes, and having partial side grippingwings, the end portions of the resilient band being held in engagementwith the ear tubes by external collars, preferably of tubular syntheticplastic material.

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a stethoscopehaving a simple but effective resilient connection between the ear tubeswhich permits easy adjustment of the ends of the ear tubes toward andaway from each other in a plane for use and for removal but preventsdisplacement of the ear tubes as by turning of the same out of thatplane.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a stethoscope havingan improved connection between the ear tubes and which will have a longuseful life.

Other objects and advantageous features of the invention will beapparent from the description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The nature and characteristic featuresof the invention will be more readily understood from the followingdescription taken in connection with the accompanying drawings formingpart thereof, in which:

, FIG. 1 is a view in elevation of a stethoscope in accordance with theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view, enlarged, taken approximately onthe line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal view partly in elevation and partlyin section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken approximately on the line4-4 ofFIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is a partial exploded perspective view of the end connection withthe tubular sleeve omitted.

It should, of course, be understood that the description and drawingsherein are illustrative merely and that various modifications andchanges can be made in the structure disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now more particularlyto the drawings, a

stethoscope is shown at 10 having ear tubes 11 preferably of metal, suchas stainless steel, brass or aluminum, with rubber or plastic ear tips12 thereon. The ear tubes 11 have flexible tubes 13 of rubber orsynthetic plastic extending therefrom to a chestpiece 14 of any desiredtype.

A binaural spring 15 is provided preferably of spring steel and ofspecial configuration as hereinafter described.

The spring 15 has a central band portion 16, which is preferably widerat the center than at the ends, and is of U- shape.

The spring 15 has end portions 17 with arcuate terminal Wings 18 whichextend partially around the tubes 1 l. The end portions 17, between thewings 18, have struck out projections 19 which engage in slots 20 in thetubes 11.

In surrounding relation to the tubes 11 at the locations thereof wherethe projections 19 engage in the slots 20 and the wings 18 extendpartially around the tubes 11, holding collars 21 are providedpreferably of synthetic plastic material and preferably shrunk in placeso as to tightly grip the wings l8 and the tubes 11.

The collars 21 hold the end portions 17 of the springs 15 firmly inplace, permit swinging movement of the ear tips 12, of the ear tubes 11toward and away from each other in a plane. Movement as by turning ofthe ear tips 12, out of this plane is resisted by the shape of thecentral portion 16 of the spring 15 and by the rigid holding of the endportions 17 by the collars 21.

We claim:

1. In a stethoscope having rigid ear tubes with terminal ends on whichflexible tubes are engaged and a chestpiece connected to said flexibletubes, the improvement which comprises a binaural spring having endportions engaging said ear tubes above said terminal ends,

interengaging portions on each of said ear tubes and said spring endportions for preventing relative rotation and longitudinal axialmovement of said ear tubes and said spring end portions but permittingrelative movement of the free ends of the ear tubes in a plane, and

a collar in surrounding gripping relation to said spring end portionsand said ear tubes spaced from said terminal ends and holding saidinterengaging portions in engagement.

2. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which said interengagingportions comprise a slot in each of said tubes and a projection on saidspring end portions disposed in said slots.

3. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which said binaural spring isU-shape and of strip material and is wider at the midportion thereof.

4. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which said collar is ofsynthetic plastic material and has a shrunk fit.

1. In a stethoscope having rigid ear tubes with terminal ends on whichflexible tubes are engaged and a chestpiece connected to said flexibletubes, the improvement which comprises a binaural spring having endportions engaging said ear tubes above said terminal ends, interengagingportions on each of said ear tubes and said spring end portions forpreventing relative rotation and longitudinal axial movement of said eartubes and said spring end portions but permitting relative movement ofthe free ends of the ear tubes in a plane, and a collar in surroundinggripping relation to said spring end portions and said ear tubes spacedfrom said terminal ends and holding said interengaging portions inengagement.
 2. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which saidinterengaging portions comprise a slot in each of said tubes and aprojection on said spring end portions disposed in said slots.
 3. Astethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which said binaural spring isU-shape and of strip material and is wider at the midportion thereof. 4.A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which said collar is of syntheticplastic material and has a shrunk fit.